Friday, December 14, 2012

The Power of Prayer

I came home Friday afternoon, and Facebook & Twitter
were full of nothing but references to the events in Connecticut. I rarely
watch the news.Social media lets me
know when there is something big going on.The news is depressing.Evil in
this world is depressing.And most media
outlets sensationalize it.

I maintain my life as a drama free zone.

What’s really important?

And not to diminish the tragedy and lost lives, because
truly words cannot describe how horrible it is.
I mean that. But the reaction
seemed a little over the top in proportion to what happened. And I feel sad saying that because shootings
like this happen way too regularly. Not
always with little kids, and not always on this large a scale, but it happens
too often. And my Facebook newsfeed is
seriously full of almost nothing but statements related to the event. Pray for
everyone involved. Occasionally something about gun control laws. But a lot of “pray for” statuses and pics.

I am in favor of prayer.
Prayer rocks.

Why aren’t we constantly in prayer? Why is my newsfeed
not constantly flooded with pictures of candles or, better yet, puppies & kitties
praying? Maybe we are all constantly in prayer. I suspect – based on my own
personal experience and distractions – that this is not the case, though.

Before today’s stuff happened, I had my own prayer
journey this week.

When we last talked, I had finally taken some action on the
latest whisperings from God. He has seen fit recently to plant a phrase in my
head from time to time. Different phrases at different times, and when I can’t
shake it after a few days I usually realize it’s probably real and I should do
something about it.

This time a friend needed prayer. And just as quickly, I needed it back. We agreed to pray for each other. And not in a “I’m going to re-tweet this
picture” kind of way, we really mean it.

Many of you have figured out and / or heard I suffered a
major wipeout last week, causing multiple bruises down one side of my body. A
couple days later, I burned my hand pretty badly. What only a select few were
aware of, though, is that I had to go through this past week without antihistamines. Periodically my doc retests me to see if the
various and sundry treatments are working – shots, namely – and if adjustments
need to be made. To get a true read on the test results, I have to spend five days
detoxing from that which keeps me from breaking out in hives on a regular
basis. In the past, by day two or three
I have been itching uncontrollably. Even
the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet itch. I come close to losing my mind trying not to
scratch my skin off. Try getting anything
constructive done while you’re in that state.

This week I made it through relatively unscathed. A little twinge here and there, but nothing,
and I mean nothing like in the past.

I had asked for prayers for calmness. And calmness I got.
I felt like I was wrapped in a big fleece blanket hug from God all week. I
floated through the week. It was almost surreal.

What an awesome, amazing, divine surprise.

God. And prayer. Those are my only explanations for how I
got through this week.

And it’s how I will continue to get through every week,
every day, every moment.